Filled-can-closing machine



P.'W. FLEISCHER.

FILLED cAIII cLosIIII MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOVl 231 1913. I l Pa/ente Feb. 1% 1922'.

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P. W. FLEISCHER.

FILLED CAN CLOSING MACHINE. APPLICAHON FILED Nov. 2a. 1913.

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FILLED CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov, 2B. I9I3.

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Patented Feb. lM, 1922;

P. W. FLEISCHER.

FILLED CAN CLOSINGr MACHINE. APPLlcArlon FILED N0v.28,1913.

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` APPLICATION mso Nov. 2s. 1913.' 1,406,631 Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

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FILLED CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1913.`

' Patentd Feb. 14,1922.

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P. w. FLEISCHEH. FILLED CAN cLoslN MAcHmE. vAPPLICATION FILED NDV. 28.9913.

Patented Feb'. M9 11922. Fig/4 8. f W MW. d w. m w fw 9 ,6, j www y P.w. FLEISCHEH.-

FILLED cAN-cLosmG MACHINE.

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specication of Letters Patent,

l' WEST HOBOXEN, JERSEY, .ASSIGNGR TO AIEBIGAN JERSEY, CORPORATION 0FNEW JER- Anuman am niemeer sa, uns. semi in. aosaos.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, PAUL a citizen of the United States residing in WestHoboken, in the county of Hudson and a State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Filled-Can-Clos. ing Machines,of which the following ais a specification,

This invention relates to improvements in io lilled can closingmachines.

One ob'ect of the invention is to provide a machine or automaticallyapplying closures\ to hlled cans and seeming t e same at high speedwithout spilling any ci the cans conln tents.

Another object of the invention is to pro-v vide a machine oi the typeindicated, in which the closures are seamed to the can bodies at a.relatively stationary seaming an mechanism, the bodies and ends beingfed to the seeming mechanism by a constantly, continuously movingfeeding device having arts thereon so arranged'that the can ies and endsare given a period of r'est oi et sudicient duration toallow of theseeming operation to take place, after which the then seamed cans areremoved from the seeming mech andejected `tirnnzii the machine.

W. Fintecna,

a@ Another object oi the invention is to prodevice for ad vide a tieederor .propelling d cose can en s to vancing 'the filled cans and theseeming mechanism, so arranged that the filled cansJ are advanced andstopped en with an easy motion, thereby preventing spilling of thecontents.

A further object oil the invention is to rovide means; automaticalloperated., w ich will prevent a can body rom being seemed c@ to theupper chuclr of the seamingomechanism when no can end is placed on p ofthe can.

Other and further objects of the invention are to rovide a filled canclosing maet chine in which the closures or ends are ap'- pled to thefilled cans while the latter are moving forwardly just prior to beingbrought to rest between the seeming chucks A and also while the can bodyis bei raise e upwardly to clamping position against theV upper seemingchuck; in whichtopping devices arev provided for engaging the contentsof the filled cans an truing-the can flanges prior to the fitting of theclosures thereto; in which the can bodies are'trued to their propershape dui-in the application of the closures thereto,'t e truing meansalso serving to properly aline the can bodies and closures with eachother and with the seamin chucks; in, which a simplified means of ingthe mac ine to operate onv cans of dif-v ferent heights; in which meansare provided for-adjusting and interchanging various parts to ada ing oncans of iierent diameter; and in which is employed an improved seemingmechanism apta/ble for operation on cans of' diierent diameter andhaving means for minutely 'adjusting the parts thereof.

The invention furthermore consists in the improvements in the parts and`devices and inthe novel combinations of the parts and 'devices as hereinshown,.described or claimed.

in the drawing forming a art oi this specification, is illustrated oneorm of machine embodying my im rovements and a detailed description of wich is given hereirafter, and the eneral operation ol which is asfollows: e filled cans are conveyed to the machine by a rotary table,the cans being proper devices which are mounted on a continuouslyrotatable turret or carrier, the topping dcvices operating while thefilled cans are moving to true the' flanges and press down andy gage thecontents of the cans; the filled cans as they come from the toppingdevices are then engaged by a feeder having a plurality of pivotallymounted propelling arms thereon which engage the cans and advance thesame along a circular track to a position in alinement with seemingmechanism, the propelling arms being governed by a cam in such a waythat the cans are given a period of rest while in alinement with theseeming mechanism; during the passage of the filled cans from the to ingdevices to the seeming 'mechanism, t ey ass beneath a magazine holding astack o can ends, from which the can t the machine for operat-f PatentedFeb. 14, 1922.

'ustment is provided for changly spaced and timed as the same i arefedbeneath oneof a series of topping i ends or .closures are separated fromthe bottom, one by one, by means automatically governed by the cansthemselves and the ends, as separated, being advanced on a supportingtrack in alinement with the can bodles by the same arms as propel thecans; during the retardation of the bodies and ends just prior to beingclamped between the chucks of the seaming mechanism, the can bodies areraisedl and pressed against the ends with a yielding pressure, therebyAassembling the ends on the can bodies, which assembling is completed bythe time the articles are brought to a full stop, after which theassembled bodies and ends are raised still further, until firmly clampedbetween two chucks of the seaming mechanism, the bodies and ends beingclamped and properly alined during the last step of the upward movement-of the lower lifting chuck by means of a pair of oscillatable truingjaws or clamps; after the articles are properly clamped between thechucks, therolls of the vseammg mechanism engage with the seamformingflanges of the assembled bodies and vends and the parts are then seamedtogether `and after the completion ofthe seaming operation the seamedcans are again engaged by the propelling arms and removed from themachine. In the event that no can` end is fed from the stack when a canbody passes beneath. the magazine, the lower chuck will be automaticallyprevented from lifting, thus preventing seaming of the can bodv to theupper chuck of the seaming mec anism.

In said drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying myimprovements: Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated inFig. 1, and looking from the right of the machine, as viewed in saidFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the ma'- chine; Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig.

1 and being upon a 1; Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional View, on anenlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 isa vertical, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6 6of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a horizontal,

sectional viewV taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. somewhat enlarged scale;Fig. `8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of F ig. 5; Fig. 9is a detail section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Figs. 10 and 11 arehorizontal, sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 10-10'and11 11 of Fig. 1; Fig.' 12 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional viewshowing more particularly 'the topping devices and taken substantiallyon the line 12 12 of Fig. 3; Fig. 13 is a detail, horizontal, sectionalview taken substantially 0n the line 13 13 of F ig. 6; Fig. 14 is anenlarged vertical, detail section taken on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13; uV

15 is a detail, sectional view of a portion of the cam governing thearms on the feeding devices; Fig. 16 is a detail, vertical, sectionalview taken substantially on the line 16-16 of Fig. 7 and illustratingmore particularly the guiding' members for the can bodies and ends; Fig.17 is a detail, sectional view ofthe seaming head taken substantially onthe line 17-17 of Fig. 5; this figure also shows by dotted lines thecontour of the operating cam which operates and controls the movement ofthe seaming rolls in timed relation with the rotation of the seaminghead and with the movement of the cans and covers to and away from theseaming position. Fig 18 is a detail'view of one of the seaming rollcarrier levers; Fig. 19 is a detail, sectional view takensubstantiallyon the line 19-19 of Fig. 17; Fig. 20 is a detail view of the camcontrolling the movements of the lower. chuck of the seaming mechanism;Fig. 21 is a detail, sectional view illustrating the latch for lockingthe Ythe seaming mechanism; and Fig. 22 isan enlarged detail of thellatching devices for locking the plunger and sleeve of the lowerreciprocating chuck.

As shown in the drawing, the various mechanisms are supported on asuitable base or standard 30, the latter being provided with a mainbed-plate 31 and an offset auxiliary bed-plate 32, said bed-platessupporting a rotatable table 33 and stationar tables 34 and 35 overwhich the cans are fedv to the various operating devices. Extendingupwardly from the center of the table 35 is a vertical, cylindricalstandard 36, to the vtop of whichis secured a horizontal bracket 37having suitable bearings therein in which is rotatably mounted a driveshaft 38 driven from any suitable source of power (not shown) throughpulley 39 having a clutch face with which co-operates a friction clutchdisk 40, the latter being operated by a forked lever 41, link 42, lever43, link 44 and hand lever 45, these parts being shown most clearly inF1 6. The open top, filled cans are first p otherwise on the rotarytableA 33, the cans being guided by a removable, detachable, arcuateguard 46, having yieldably mounted plates 47 on its inner face. As thecans vare carried round by the table 33, they are pro erly spaced andtimed by a disk 48 rotatab e in unison with the table v33, the disk 48having a plurality of equall spaced projections 49 on its periphery.When the cans crowdone upon the other while being fed by the table 33the cans will be frictionally held by the yieldable members 47 androtated thereabout by the projections 49 until a can fits in between twoof said projections, thus insuring a uniform, timed delivery of the cansto the rotary star wheel 50 located above the table 34, the cans beingproperly guided 130 i aced by hand or vand held in position whilebeingmoved by said star wheel by another detachable and removable arcuateguard 51.

While the cans are being rotated by the star wheel 50, the same areoperated upon by the topping devices A, which are illustrated mostclearly in Fig. 12. The topping devices A correspond in number to thenumber of pockets in said star wheel 5() and are alined therewith, eachtopping device A being yieldably and slidably mounted on the lower endof a reciprocating plunger 52, said plunger 52 being slidably mounted ina spider 53 secured to a rotatable shaft 54, said shaft 54 being thesame as that to which the star wheel is also secured. Each plunger 52,at its upper end, is pro vided with a roller 55 which engages astationary' cam track 56 secured to a bracket 57, the latter being fixedto a split sleeve 58 slidably and adjustably mounted on the standard 36,saidsleeve being more particularly hereinafter described. v Each topingdevice A comprises a die-shaped head raving a tapered lower portion 59adapted to enter the mouths of the cans, a flange 60' adapted to engageand true the can body seaming flanges and another flange 61 in which.are slidably mounted a plurality of spring-controlled ejecting pins 62lspaced around the peripheries of the flanges 60 and 61 and adapted todisengage the cans from the topping devices when the latter are raisedfrom the cans by the cam 56. The under-face of the portion 59 of eachtopping device is concave, as shown at 63, and one or more ventholes 64are provided so that not only do the topping devices true up the canbodies andiflanges but they serve the further function of uniformlygaging the contents of each can so as to thereby leave a uniform spacein the top ofthe cans before the covers are applied and seamed thereto.

pelling arms or flights 66. By referring toV l Figs. 6 and 10, it willbe seen that each arm or flight 66 is in the form-of a bell crankpivotally mounted on a continuously and uniformly rotatable carriermember 67, the latter being rotatably mounted on the sleeve 58 andhaving a. gear 68 on the under side v thereof meshing with and driven bya pinion 69, the latter being secured to the upper end of a. short,vertical shaft 70 having a gear 71 at the bottom thereof meshing withanofther lrear 72 (see F ig. 11) fixed to the lower end o a verticalshaft 73 which. at its upper end, carries a. worm gear 74 (see Fig. 3)driven by a worm'75 on the horizont-al shaft 38. The outer end of cachpropelling arm tioned rela-tively After the lcans have been operatedupon rangement I tion 76 an amount equal to one-half the differencebetween the diameters of the can 1 bodies and thev can ends whereby asthe can bodies` and can ends are propelled in alinenient with eachother, ashereinafter described, 'the can ends will be properly positothe bodies. Each pro pelling arm 66 is provided with `a short lever arm480 having an antifriction rollerg81 thereon, said rollers 81 travelingin a relatively stationary cam groove 82 formed on the under side of onthe sleeve 58. The cam groove 82 is so arranged that the propelling arms66 are oscillated while bodily traveling with the carrier 67, thuscausing.y the body and end engaging portions of the arms 66 to travel atspeeds bothl greater than and less than that ofthe member 67 whichcarries them.

As viewed in F ig. 10, it will be seenthat asy the rollers on the innerends of the arms 66 traverse that portion of the cam groove 82 betweenthe points a and b, the outer ends of the arms -66 will be advanced oraccelerated relatively to the carrier 67 and `as the rollers traversethat portion of the cam groove between the points b and c the outer endsof the arms^66 will be swung backwardly or retarded relatively 'to thecarrier 67, the rate of backward movement of the outer ends of the armsbeing equal to or greater than the rate of forward movement of theVcarrier 67 so that the bodies and ends which are be allowed a period ofrest 'at the seaming station, hereinafter described. As the roll ers onthe arms 66 traverse that portion of the groove 82 between the points cand d, the outer ends of the 'arms will again be accelerated or advancedrelatively to the carrier 67 to thereby engage the cans after theseaming h-as taken place and eject the finished cans out of the machinealong the chute 84s. The rise in the cam groove 82 'from the point (t toIthe point 6 is very gradual, thereby preventing any spilling of the cancontents during the passage from the topping devices to the seamingmechanism, and the Slo-wing down and stopping of the cans beneath theseaming mechanism is also accomplished by a gradual motion which helpsto prevent spilling, so that by this aram enabled to feed the cansforw-ardly at a. relatively high 4rate of speed, and still stop themcompletely, a sufficient length .of time to permit of the seamingoperation without danger of spilling. and 1n practical lutve-succeededin feeding cans filled. to within a. quarter of an inch from the top..ata rate of over seventy per minute.

propelled by the arms 66 will a cam plate 83 'mounted So far as I amaware, chines where the filled cans are brought to rest during theseaming operation, the highest practical speed obtainable at which thefilled cans can be fed without spilling, has been limited toapproximately forty` per minute.

Durinlg the passage of the filled cansl from the topping devices to therelatively stationary seaming mechanism B, and while the cans aremoving, the ends or closures are fed and applied by the followingdevices: The ends are stacked in a. magazine 85, detachably mounted on abracket 86, secured to the sleeve 58 and movable therewith. By referringto Figs. 7. 8 and 9 it will be seen that there 'is slidably mounted inthe bottom of the magazine 85 a cut-out knife 87 which reciprocates insuitable guideways 88 on the bracket 86. When no can bodies are beingfed beneath the magazine, which is located above the guide 65, the knife87 remains stationary, but when a can is beinlo' fed it operates. Itsoperation is controlled by a can-controlled. lever 89 (See Fig. 10)iiixed to an oscillatable, vertical rod 90 (see 4`ig. a. lever 91provided at its free end with a cam plate 92, the latter having a camgroove 93 in its under face in which operates a pin 94 mounted on oneend of a latch 95 pivoted to the knife or slide 87. The other end of thelatch 95 is provided with a hook 96 in other closing mawhich co-operateswith a. shoulder 97 on a' link 98, thel latter being constantlyreciprocated by a bell crank lever 99 operated by a cam 100 secured tothe vertical shaft 73. When the controlling leve-r 89 is pushed out by apassing can, the cam plate 92 will be moved from its normal position,shown ,in Fig. 7, thereby in turn oscillating the latch 95 so that thehook thereon will engage the shoulder 97- whereupon the knife slide 87will be reciprocated with the link 98. The pin 94, after the hook 96 hasengaged the shoulder 97, in traversing the cam groove 93 on its outwardstroke will push back the lever 91 to its normal position so that on thereturn stroke of the link 98 (with knife '87 and latch 95) the pin 94wlill traverse the cam slot 93 in a reverse direction therebydisengaging the hook 96. Ordinarily. when the hook 96 isdisengaged, thereciprocation of the link 98 will not affect the knife 87, since thelink 98 is pro# vided with a. pin 101 which reciprocates freely in aslot 102 in t-he knife slide 87.` As will be understood, the knife 87when in its innermost position, supports the stack of can ends in themagazine 85 but when withdrawn from the magazine the stack will falluntil supported by the can end supporting ledges 103 and upon the returnof the knife v within the malgazine, the lowermost or bottom can endwill be separated und cut-out 5) to the upper end of which is fixedrenacer from the remainder of the stack. As a propelling arm 66advances, the pin on the top thereof will engage the cut-out can end andmove it along the led s 103 in alinement with the can body. *rom thepreceding description it will be seen that the feeding of the can endsis governed by the can bodies themselves, so that when no can body ispresent no end will be inadvertently fed.

As will be understood, the can body guides and can end supporting ledges103 extend to points adjacent the seaminlg mechanism B and the bodiesand ends are brought to rest when in alinement therewith, due to theretardation of the propelling arms as hereinbefore described. Theseaming mechanism, shown clearly in Fig. 5, comprises a. head 104, uppernon-rotatable chuck 105 and a lower. vertically reciprocating,non-rotatable chuck or lifter 106, the latter being yieldingly mounted.by interposed springs 107 on a sho-rt plunger 108, the latter in turnbeing yieldably and slidably mounted within a sleeve 109, by spring 208,the amount of relative movement between the plunger 108 and sleeve 109being limited by a pin 110 and slot 111. The sleeve 109 slides in afixedlbearing 112, said sleeve 109 having reciprocatingly mountedtherein a plunger 113 which is adapted to be locked with said sleeve 109by means hereinafter described. The plunger 113 is constantly,reciprocated by -a mechanism comprising a link 114 pivoted thereto, bellcrank 115, rod 116, the latter having a roller 117 engaging in a cam 118fixed to the shaft 73 (see Fig. 11). The plunger 113 is normally free tomove up and down within the sleeve 109 by means of the pin and slotarrangement 119, 120. Means, however, are provided for locking thesleeve 109 and plunger 113, which is controlled by the can ends, so thatwhen a can end is fed in alinement with a can body to be seamedthe-reto, the lower chuck 106 of the seaming mechanism will bereciprocated, but when no can end is present the chuck 10G will not ybereciprocated, thereby preventing the possi'bilityof the can body beingseamed to the upper chuck 105 of the seamer. Said means comend of whichis fixed a lever 124. Said lever 124 is provided with a dependingprojection 125 which engages an end 126 of a latch or lock 127 pivotallymounted on a.

carried thereby, is moved in unison with the plunger 113,. The latch127, after the seamlar can mg operation is performed onv the particubodyand can end which cause the latch to be operated, is positively knockedout or released 'by a reciprocating knockout rod 130 (see Fig. 21) saidrod being operated Iby acam 131f carried by shaft 73. v'llo prevent thelatch 127 from being accidentally ydisplaced after it locks the plunger`and sleeve, a depending guard 132 is fixed lto the under side of thebed-plate 31, as shown in Fig. 2. As will be apparent, the knockout rod130 will not onl release the latch 127 but the movement ofry the latterwill in turn cause the return of the pivoted porvao tion of the can endsupporting ledge 121 to its normal position, which is limited by a pinand slot arrangement 133 (see Fig. 7).v

Referring now to Fig. 20, it will be seen that the cam 118 isconstructed with a dwell between the radii fm. and n, a l gradual risebetween the radii a and 0, a short dwell between the radii 0 and p,another gradual rise between the radii p and g, a long dwell .betweenthe radii q and 7' and a fall betweenthe radii r and m. The cam isconstructed as above described in order to raise the lower lifting chuck106 of the seaming mechanism in two steps; that is by first raising thelower chuck a smalldistance, then holding the samestationary for a shortperiod of'time and subsequently completing the lifting movement andholding the chuck stationary .in its highest position during the seamingoperation, after which the chuck is lowered and the cycle of movementsrepeated whenever and as often as the latch 126 is operated. Theoperation of cam groove 82 andcam 118 is so timed that when the canbodies are first brought on to the lower lifting chuck 106 and beforethe cans are in axial alinement with the seaming mechanism, said chuckwill be raised its first step by the cam 118 as hereinbefore described.This, on account of the spring 208, will serve to yieldingly press thecan body up against its alined cover which is supported above it on thecan end supporting ledges, thereby covering the can and preventingspilling of its contents, the can end in turn being`pressed up againstthe .the top of the can bod assembling the' canbody and end substan theroller on the arm 66 in the cam groove 82, the cover will be'pressedinto place on thereby completely.

tially simultaneously'with the same being brought to a full stop inaxial alinement mechanism, the latter'. being raised bythe continuedupward movement of the lower chuck until the adjustable splitv nut 135on the upper end of the chuck spindle 136 engages a stationary stop 137,the can body and end being then firmly clamped between .the chucks andready to be operated upon by the seaming rollers, it being understoodthat any small differences in height of the cans are compensated for bya spring 138 interposed between the .rod 116 and the bell crank 115,(see Fig. 2), which is stronger than the spring 208, the latter beingutilized only during the first upward movement of the chuck 106 toyieldingly press the can Ibodies and ends together, and being entirelycompressed when the assembled bodies and ends are finally clampedbetween the upper and lower chucks. -v

After the vbodies and ends have been assembledand brought to a. stop asabove described and ractically simultaneously with the beginning of thelast portion of the'upward movement of vthe lower chuck, the can endsand bodies are/centered and jaws 139 being oscillated simultaneously bya link 143 and lbell crank 144, the latter engaging in a. cam groove 145formed on the cam member 100. The main or body portions of the segmentaltruing jaws 139 engage the can bodies, the can ends being engaged bythree upstanding segmental lips 146 thereon arranged in thecircumference of a circle. rlhe foregoing described .sequence ofoperations occurs in avery small interval of time, so that when themachine is' running, the various operations appear to take place almostsimultaneously but by proper timing of the parts the operations can beperformed without spilling ofA any of the cans contents. .t

The seaming .mechanismi which operates ou the assembled can'` bodiesdand ends after the latter are pushed up through the'opening 147 in theplate 134 and firmly clamped between the upper and lower chucks,comprises the head 104 rotatably mounted on and supported by a hollowsleeve 148 within which .is mounted said spindle' 136.- The sleeve 148,which vis flanged at the lower end trued by a pair of'pivoted segmentaltruing thereof and provided with suitable ball-bearings for the head, iscarried by, and adjustably supported in, a bracket 149, the latter beingformed integral with the sleeve 58. The head 104 is rotated by a gear150 secured thereto, the latter being driven by gear 151 fixed to ashort vertical shaft 152 driven by bevel gears 153 and 154, the latterbeing fixed to the inner end of shaft 38 (see Fig. 6). Mounted on thehead 104 and rotatable thereon, is a seaming roll lever-governing cam155 rotated at a slightly slower speed than that of the head by gears156 and 157, the latter being also rotatable with said shaft 152. Inpractice, the gears 150 andy 151 will have forty-eight and fifty teethrespectively, and the gears 156 and 157 will have forty-nine teeth each,so that the cam 155 will lose one complete revolution during eachtwenty-five complete revolutions of the head 104, thereby oscillatingthe seaming roll operating-levers 158, each of which carries a roller159 traveling in the cam 155, said seaming roll operating-levers 158being pivotally mounted in offset extensions 160 on the head 104.Pivotally connected with each lever 158 is a link 161, the opposite endof which vis pivotally connected to one end of a seaming rollcarrying-lever 162, the latter being pivoted in an extension 160, asshown l in Figs. 5 and 19, and carrying a seaming roll 163. The links161 between the operating-levers and the carrying-levers are maderemovable vandv interchangeable for others of different length to adaptthe seaming mechanism for operation on different diameter cans, and theconnectionsbetween the links and levers are also made adjustable bymeans of eccentric pivot pins 164, (see Fig. 19), this latter adjustmentbeing for the purpose of compensating for minute variations incident towear on the parts, etc., as contradistinguished from the adjustmentprovided for by the interchangeable links 161 for operating on differentsize cans. After the seaming operation has been performed, the lowerchuck ,106 will be lowered, the upper chuck 105 falling in unisontherewith and' the cans will be prevented from sticking to said upperchuck by an ejector rod 165 operated by a bell cra-nk lever 166, rod 167and bell crank lever 168, the latter having a roller engaging in a'cam169 mounted on the shaft 73. While both of the cam rollers 159 are inwhat may be called the low part of the cam groove, relatively near tothe center of rotation, the can and cover will be lifted against theupper chuck. and then the first operation cam roller travels over thefirst operation cam face. As soon as the first operation is finished andthe first operation seaming roller disengages from the can the secondoperation cam roller is moved away from the center of rotation by thesecond operation cam face and the secondI operation seaming roller be-Aup and down on the gins its work. ln Fig. 17 the ,second operationseaming roller shown at the lower right hand side of said figure is justbeing released from the seam, and this inactivity of both seamingrollers permits the seamed can to be lowered and moved from the seamingstation and a new unseamed can to be fed onto the can lifter and raised.During these can feeding movements (after the first-seamed can has beenlowered'out of range of the seaming rollers) the second operation camroller travels over the first operation cam face and the first operationroller will travel over the second cam face, and then the seaming'mechanism will be in position to begin the first operation seaming onthe newly chucked can. After the cans are released from the seamingmechanism they are engaged by the propelling arms 66 and ejected fromthe machine through the chute 84, as previously described. For safety,the seaming head and (vo-operating parts are enclosedI in a suitablecase 170, the latter being provided With a hinged section 171 adapted tobe locked in closed position by a latch 172.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 6, it will be seen .that the sleeve 58 issplit, as indicated at 173, so that the sleeve may be adjusted standard36 by the ad'- justing bolt 174, the sleeve 58 being clamped in positionby a clamping bolt 175 which passes through offset projections on thesplit portions thereof. As has been previously described, the toppingdevices, can end separating and feeding devices, the can body and canend propelling devices and the seaming head with its adjacent parts, areall directly carried and supported by said vsleeve 58 so that anyadjustment of the latter adjusts*- all the above described operatingmechanism Simultaneously and at the same time maintains their relativevertical position, so that the machine can be quickly adapted foroperating on cans of different heights. As will be understood, thevarious shafts, rods, cams .and gears referenced 54, 70, 73, 9'0, 100,123,

153 and 169 are provided-with keys, feathers or set-screws whereby theymay all be adjusted vertically when the machine is changed to operate oncans of different height.

The machine is also made adjustable for operation on cans of differentdiameter and to this end the'cam disk or plate 83 is adinstableangularly relatively to the sleeve 58 120 y means of an eccentric stud182 (see Fig.

10), said stud being mounted in an extension l on the sleeve 58. Byadjusting the cam [groove 82 which controls the movements of -thepropelling arms 66, the points at which the cans are accelerated,retarded and stopped can be varied in accordance with the diameters ofthe cans as desired, the essential feature being that-the axes of thecans shall be `ii1 alinement with thechucks of the 10 broughtto resttherebetween.

. angular relation between the cans are When the cam disk 83 is adjustedas just described, it becomes necessary to adust the gear 68 relativelytothe carrier 6 to which it is secured in order to preserve the propertimed relations between the movements of the propelling arms andv themovementsof the chuck or lifter 106. yBy referring to Figs.

seeming mechanism when the Ai3 and 14, it will be seen that the carrier.

167 has mounted therein an eccentric stud 17d' having a bolt 175therethrough which is fixed to the gear 68, the eccentric stud workingin a slot 176 in the carrier 67. As will be understood, by loosening thenut 177 and rotating' the eccentric stud 174, the ar 68 and carrier 67may be adjusted as esired. The gear 68 is held rigid with the carrier 67after an adjustment has been made by a luralit of bolts and nuts 178movable in e ongate slots in the carrier 67, as shown' more clearly inFig. 13. @ther means for 'adapting the machine to operate on differentdiameter cans are provided b making the guides 46 and 51 interchangea lefor others ot diderent size; by making the star wheel 50 and the toppingdevices interchangeable and removable for others of different size;

by malring the can body and can end guidesv intercheable and removablefor others oi dideient width; by having the truing jaws interchangeablefor others of different size; by making the can end magazine detachableand interchangeable; and by having the seaming mechanism adjustable foroperation on cans ot diderent diameter by providing interchangeablelinks 161 as previously described.

After the seemed cans havebeen pushed down the chute 8d by thepropelling a,

it becomes necessa to place t e pro elling as in such a position thatthey wi l vclear the shaft 73, (see Fig. l0), and to accomplishthisresult, eachropelling arm is provided with a ioi'ke portion 17 9 whichstrilres a lined pin 180, (see lFig. l5), on the under side of the camplate 83, which pin throws the propelling arms forward sufficiently to cear said shaft 73 and to preventv any accidental displacement of thepropelling arms while passing the shaft 73, a guard 181 is provided. p

l do not in this'applica-tion claim broadly the topping' mechanism forfilled can closing machines or the feeding and spacing mechanism for'filled can closing machines, the same being the subjects respectively ofmy applications Serial Nos. 528,027 and 528,028, filed January 9, 1922,said applications being divisions hereof.

ll claim- 1. A can seeming machine including, in

combination; a relatively stationary seam-ir eging mechanism havingseeming `rolls and up' er and lower chucks; a `feeder for prope ing'canbodies to said seaming mechanism; means, operable in unison with saidfeeder, for picking up a can end and moving it toward the seamingmechanism; guides on which the can ends are supported while being movedtoward and mechanism for after a can has beengplaced thereon and whilestill movin to thereby ress the can body up against t e can end, sustantially as specified.

2. A seeming machine including, in combination: a supporting framehaving a table thereon and an upwardly extending post' a head slidablymounted on said post; an a seamng head, a can end magazine, can end`feedin and ropellng means and a can body eeder al mounted on andsupported b said slidable -head and movable in unison t erewith, wherebyall said operating mechanisms may be simultaneously adjusted the seamingmechanism;-

lifting the lower chuck for cans of diierent heights by moving saidymechanism to which cans are a apted to be brought; a continuouslymovable feeder having a plurality of can-propelling arms thereonandbodily movable therewith; and means for moving said arms relatively 'tothe feeder during themovement ofthe lat-I ter, whereby portions of saidprdpelling arms are accelerated and retarde said means being adjustableto thereby vary the points at which the accelerating and retardingmovements of said arms take place, substantially as specihed.

4. A seeming machine including, incombination': relatively stationaryseeming mechanism to which cans are brought; a continuously movablefeeder having a plurality of can-propellin arms pivotally mountedthereon and bo ily movable therewith; and an adjustable cam forcontrolling said arms, substantially as specified'.

6. A seeming machine including, in combination: a supporting framehaving a table thereon and a post extending vertically upward therefrom;a head slidably mountedon said post; and a seaming head, a can endmagazine, can body and can end -feeding means, and centering jawslocated the movements of ico beneath 13o able head, substantially asspecified.

' seaming mechanism; a continuously movable.v

7 In a. seaming machine, in combination:

feeder having a plurality of can propelling arms independently movablethereon and bodily movable therewith; and means governing theindependent movements of said arms while the feeder is moving, saidmeans beinr adjustable to thereby vary the points at .which saidindependent movements of the arms take place, substantially asspecified.

8. In a seaming machine, 1n combination: seaming mechanism; acontinuously rotatable feeder having a plurality of can propelling armspivotally mounted thereon and bodily movable therewith; a stationary camadapted to oscillate said arms as the latter rotate with the feeder-tothereby accelerate and retard the movements of Said arms; and means foradjusting said cam to thereby vary the points at which said acceleratingand retarding movements of said arms take place, substantially asspecified.

9. A seaming machine including, in combination: seaming mechanism; aholder for a stack of can ends; mechanism for propelling can bodies andends to said seaming mechanism; devices for cutting out can ends one byone from the stack; an-d means, dependent upon the presence or absenceof a can end, governing the chucking of the cans to be seamed andadapted to prevent a can body from being operated upon by the rolls ofthe seaming mechanism when no end is n present, substantially asspecified.

10. A seaming machine including, in combination: seaming mechanismhaving chucks relatively movable toward and from each other to clamp acan therebetween; mechanism for propelling can bodies to the useamingmechanism; means for feeding can ends to the bodies before the latterreach the seaming mechanism; and means for preventving said chucks frombeing moved toward each other to clamp a can when no end is fed to abody, substantially -as specified;

11. A seaming machine including, in combination: seaming mechanismhaving seaming rolls, an upper chuck and a reciprocating lower chuck;mechanism for propelling can bodies to said seaming mechanism; devicesfor feeding can ends to the bodies prior to the bodies reaching theseaming mechanism; and means for preventing'a reci rocating movement ofsaid lower chuck w en no can end is fed to a can body, substantially asspecified.

12. A seaming machine including, 1n com- 'binationz seaming mechanismhaving 'chucks cutting out one can end at a time from the stack, saidmeans being operated 'only when a can body is present to receive a canend; mechanism for propelling can bodies and ends in alignment with eachother to said seaming mechanism; and means for preventing a can beingchucked whenno end isfed" thereto, substantially as specified.

13. seaming machine including, in combination: seaming mechanism;.devices for feeding can bodles and can. ends tosaid seaming mechanismto be operated 'upon thereby; and means for preventing the seamingoperation from ltaking place when no can end accompanies the can body,substantially as specified.

14. A seaming machine including, in combination: seaming mechanism; atrack along which can bodies are adapted to be propelle to said seamingmechanism; a track along which can ends are adapted to be propelled tothe seaming mechanism; devices for propellingcan bodies and canendsalong said tracks in alignment with each other to said seamingmechanism; and means for preventing the seaming operation from takingplace when no canL4 end is. fed in lalignment with the can body, saidmeans including'a movably mounted member in thepath of can ends beingmoved. along the can end 4track and adapted to be operated by a can end,substantially as specified.'

15. A seaming machine including, in combination: seaming mechanismhaving chucks relatively movable ltoward and from each other; operating`mechanism adapted` to move one of said chucks devices for feeding canbodies and ends to said seaming mechapropelling member to give the samea vvariable movement; and power mechanism connected with said propellingmember and with said seaming-mechanism.

17. A can seaming machine including, in combination: a uniformly andcontinuously movable feeder having a plurality of pivotally mounted canpropelling members thereon, said members being `oscillatable relativelyto the feeder during the movement' of the latter to give the...cans aneasy movement and a period 'of rest; means whereby incassi saidpropelling members are caused to move around a central point whileengaged with a can; seaming mechanism adjacent the path of saidpropelling members at the point of rest to which the cans are propelledby said members; a cam for oscillating said members; and power mechanismconnected with said feeder and with said seaming mechanism.

18,; A can seeming machine including, in

combination: relatively stationary seamingmechanism; andj means,including an inter posed cushioning element, for raising said lowerchuck in steps to assemble the can bodies with the'ends.

19. A can seaming machine including, in combination: a table; guideslocated above said table for supportlng can ends; seaming mechanism, thelatter including seaming ro ls and upper and lower chucks; means forpropelling can bodies and can ends separate from each other along saidtable and `said guides respectively to the seaming mechanism; and a camfor raisingsaid lower chuck in ste s after the vcan bodies, separatefrom t e can ends, are first brought thereon.

20. ln a can seaming machine in combination: a pair of non-rotatablechucks relatively movable axially to and from each other and adapted toclamp a can therebetween; and a rotatable seaming head having horizontalswinging roll carrier levers; horizontally swinging cam operated levers;links connecting the cam levers with the roll levers; and means foradjusting horizontally the pivots of said links.

21. A seaming machine including, incombination: relatively stationaryseeming mechanism; a magazine for holding a stack of can ends; and acombiined can body feeder and can end feeder, said combined feederincluding a movable carrying member having a plurality of pivotallymounted arms thereon, the arms being bodily movable with the carryingmember and also independently movable thereof, `each arm having aportion thereof lfor engaging a can body and another portion offset fromthe lirst named portion to engage a can end and hold the latter inproper relation with the can body; and means for holding the can endsseparated from the can bodies while they are sofed.v

22. In a can closing machine, in combination: a can endstack holder andseparator; a seaming mechanism; and a can body propelling arm havingmeans for propelling the can ends parallel 'with and separate from thecan "bodies, and guides along whichthe can-bodies and can ends arepropelled while so separated.

23.111 a machine for applying together can ends and can bodies, thecombination of can end and body applying mechanism comprising a verticalshaft and a seaming head thereon, can feeding means comprising ahorizontally movable carrier, can-engaging members movably mounted onsaid carrier, a curved can-guiding track in which said can-engagingmembers operate, a cam substantially parallel with said curved track,and having cam faces extending towards and from said track andcontrolling and operating said can engaging members with a variablecan-advancing movement, and actuating mechanism connected with saidseamin head and with said movable carrier.

24. n a machine forapplying together can ends and can bodies, thecombination' of can end and-body applying mechanismcomprising a verticalshaft and a seaming head thereon and aflcan lifter, can feeding meanscomprising a horizontally movablex carrier, can-engaging members movablymounted on said carrier, a curved can-gui lng track 1n which saidcan-engaging members operate, a cam substantially parallel withsaidcurved track and having cam faces extending towardsland from said trackand controlling and operating said can engag,l

ing members with a variable can-advancing movement, and actuatingmechanism connected with said seaming head and with said movablecarrier.

25. In a machine for applying together can -ends and can bodies, thecombination of can end and body applying .mechanism comprising avertical shaft and a seaming l head thereon, can feeding'meanscomprising a horizontal carrier rotary about a vertical axis,can-engaging members movablymounted on said carrier, a curved.can-guiding track in which said can-engaging members operate, a camsubstantially parallel with said curved track, extending around saidaxis of the carrier and having cam faces extending towards and from saidtrack. and controlling and operating said can engaging members with avariable canadvancing movement, and actuating mechanism connected withsaid seaming head and vwith said movable carrier. f

26. ln a machine for applying together can ends and can bodies, thecombination of can end and body applying mechanism, can

end feeding means, can body feeding means comprising a rotary carrier, avertical piv otal bearing for said carrier, can engaging members havingpivotal bearings on said carrier, agcan guiding track extending part ofthe way around said pivotal bearing, and

ita

means for controlling and operating said can-engaging members to varytheir canpro elling advance.

2 In. a machine for applying together can ends and can bodies, thecombinatlon of can end and body applying mechanism, can end feedingmeans, can body feeding means comprising a can-propelling carrier havinga verticalV pivotal bearing, can engagmg members movably mounted on saidcarrier, a can guiding track extending part of the Way around saidivotal bearing, and a cam extending aroun said )ivotal bearing andhaving faces for controllling and operating said can-engaging memberstheir can-propelling advance.

28. In a machine for ap lying together can ends and can' bodies, t ccombination of vcan end and body applyin mechanism, can end feedingmeans, can ody feeding means comprising a rotary carrier, a verticalpivotal bearing for said carrier, can` engaging members having pivotalbearings Vto vary on said carrier, a can guiding track, and` a camextending around said pivotal bearing and having faces for controllmgand v operating` said can-engaging members to vary thelr can-propellingadvance. e

29. In a machine for ap lyingtogether can ends and can bodies, t ecombination of can end and body applying mechanism, can end feedingmeans, canv body feeding means comprising a rotary carrier, a verticalpivotal bearing for said carrier, can engaglng members having pivotalVbearings on said carrier, a can guiding track extending part of the wayaround said pivotal bearing, and a cam extending around said pivotalbearing and having faces for controlling and operating said can-engagingmembers to vary their can-propelling advance. v

30. In a machine for applying together can ends and can bodies, thecombination of can end and body applyin mechanism, can end feedingmeans, can iody feedi means comprising a rotary carrier, a vertidipivotal bearing for said carrier, can engagmg members having pivotalbearings on said carrier and moved thereby in a circular path, a canguiding track extending part of the way around said ivotal bearin and acam extendin aroun said ivotal aring and having aces for contro ling andoperating said can-engaging members to vary their can-propellingadvance.

' 31. An apparatus for uniting flanged and shouldered can'ends toflanged cans, comprising rotary mechanism carrying rotary seaming means,devices for moving flanged cans and flanged and shouldered can ends inunison along a path leading to'said rota seaming means while separatedfrom eac other, means for bringlng said cans and can ends together intocomplete assembled relation while said cans are moving and beforereaching -said rotary seaming means and for continuing the movement ofsaid flanged cans and said can ends as assembled units into operativerelation with said rotary seaming mechanism where they are permanentlyunited, and meansarranged along the path traversed by said flanged cansand moved by said cans for controllmg the feed of said canends.

32. In a can seaming and closin machine, incombination: a seaming mecanism; a continuously moving can-carrier arranged to deliver cans underand to convey them away from the said seaming mechanism; and providedwith means 'for holding the cans in spacedfarrangement; and areciprocatiu can-feeding means co-operating transverse? with the saidcan carrier to transfer cans rom said carrier to the seaming mechanismand from said seaming mechanism to the carrier. 1

33. In a can seaming and closing machine, in combination; a seaming mecanism; a continuously moving can-carrier arranged to' deliver cans in11ne with and to convey them away from the said seaming mecha.- nism;and provided with means for holding the cans in spaced arrangement; anda reciprocating plunger cooperating with the said can carrier totransfer cans from saidcarrier to the seaming mechanism and from saidseamin mechanism to the carrier.

34. n a can seaming and closing ina-- chine, in combination; a rotarycan end seaming head; a continuously'moving can. carrier arranged todeliver cans in line with and to conve them awa from the said seamingmec anism; .an provided with means for holding the cans in spacedarrangement; and a reciprocating plungerco- 105 operating with the saidcan carrier to transfer cans from said carrier tothe said seaming headand from said seaming head to the carrier.

35. Ina can seaming and closing machine, 114

in combination: a seaming mechanism; an upper can holding chuck; acontinuously meving can-carrier arranged to deliver cans under and toconvey them, -away from, the

said seaming mechanism; and provided with 11| a means for olding thecans 1n spaced arrangement; and a lower reciprocating plunend feedingmechanism; a continuously ,12e

movable can-carrier arranged to deliver cans under and to convey themaway from the said seamin mechanism; and provided with means for oldingthe cans 1n 'spaced arrangement: and a reciprocating can-fowl lper chuckand seaming mechaand to return them in a reverse rection and by the samepath to said conveyer.

38. ln a machine to can bodies, the combination of can end attachinmeans, a continuously moving can carrier aving means for holding cans indenite spaced arrangement, devices for transferring Athe cans from saidcarrier to said attaching means, and actuating mechanism whereby the'said carrier and transferring devices are operated in timed relation toeach other to disengage the cans from said holding means at a stationand transfer them into operative relation' with the said attachingmeans, said carrier being arranged to re-engage the cans, after theattachment of their ends, at the same station where they were sodisengaged.

39. lin a can seaming and closing machine, 1n combination, a seamingmechanism, can end feeding mechanism, a continuously moving can carrierarranged to deliver cans in line with and to convey them away from thesaid seamin mechanism and providedwith means for olding, the cans 1nspaced arrangement, a reciprocating plunger cooperating with the saidcan carrier to transfer cans from said carrier to the seaming mech-'anism and from said seaming mechanism to the carrier, and meanscooperating with the said can' carrier, actuated by the continuouslymoving carrier through the media of the successive cans thereon andcontrolling the operation ofthe said can end feeding mechanism.

o 40. ln a can seaming and closin machine, in combination, a seamingmechanism, a continuously moving can carrier arranged to o deliver cansin line with and toI` convey them away from the said seaming mechanism,and provided with means for holding the cans in spaced arrangement, canend feeding mechanism, a reciprocating plunger= cooperating with thesaid can carrier to transfer cans from said carrier to the seaminmechanism and from said seamingmechanlsm/fto the carrier, and meanscooperating with the said can carrier, actuated by the successive cansthereon and controlling the operation of the said can; end 'feedingmechanism. .Y

41. In a can seaming and closing machine,

in combination, seaming mechanism, canfor attaching can ends.

- successive cam-portions end feeding means, a continuously movablecan-carrier arranged to cause the cans to operate mechanism of saidcan-end feeding means, and acting to deliver cansunder and to conveythem away from the said seaming mechanism and provided with means Aforholding the cans in spaced arrangement, and a reciprocating can-feedingmeans cooperating transversely with the said carrier to transfer cansfrom said carrier to the seaming mechanism and from said seamingmechanism to the carrier.

42. In a machine for securing can ends to can bodies, the combination ofcan body and can end feeding means, upper and lower chucks between whichthe assembled can and can end are clamped, can-seaming means comprisinga iirst operation roll and a second operation roll independently movablerelative' to each other during the seaming operation, devicesiforpressing the first operation roll against the arts of the assembled canand can end which are to be seamed while the second operation roll isidle, devices for pressing the second operation roll against the partlyformed seam, said devices including a single cam track co-,axial withsaid can seaming means and formed with for operating both of said rollsas described and with a portion which allows both of said rolls to beinoperative while the seamed can is removed and a succeeding unseamedcan is fed to a positionL in line with the can-seaming means, and I-means for producing rapid relative rotation 43. n a machine forsecuring can ends to v filled can bodies the combination of a seamingmechanism, a conveyor moving the filled can horizontally to the seamingmechanism, can-lifting means for lifting the can to said seamingmechanism, and movable operating devices for said can lifting meanswhereby the latter lifts said can by a plurality of separated liftingsteps prior to the seaming operation, l i

44. lin a machine for securing canends to filled can bodies'thecombination of seaming mechanism, a conveyor moving filledv canshorizontally to said seaming mechanism, a vertically movable can lifthaving a plurality of progressive upward steps, said conveyor moving thecan body across said lifting mechanism between successivev lifting"steps of said liftingmechanism,` f,

